Improvement in shower-baths



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N. P. NELSON Shower-Bath.

Patented July 9,1878.

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N. P. NELSON. Shower-Bath.

Patented July 9 I878.

v QNVENTOR TERSv FHOTO-LITHOGR UNITED STATES PATENT IQFFIOE.

NELS P. NELSON, OF ST. PETE l, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOWER-BATHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,757, dated July 9, 1878; application filed October 2, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELs P. NELSON, of St. Peter, in the county of Nicollet and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shower-Baths; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shower-baths, and is designed to aflord an apparatus which will allow the party bathing to operate the same, so as to give ashowerbath conveniently and simultaneously with such operation.

It consists in providing a large tub or vessel with two single-acting force-pumps, which obtain their water-feed from a suitable volume of water previously placed in the tub, and which discharges into a common chamber. From this chamber leads a pipe or trunk, which extends upward a suitable distance, and is provided with a spray-discharge, so as to shower down upon the body of the person who operates the said pumps. To accomplish this operation, a platform is pivoted in a central transverse line of its body to a suitable supporting box-frame, which latter is placed over the vertical barrels of the pumps, and to the respectively opposite vibrating end bodies of this pivoted platform are attached the plunger-rods of the pumps. Suitable valve and port mechanism allows of the alternate suction and delivery of each of these pumps, as the latter are operated by the tilting weight of the person bathing. The bather upon the platform, beneath the spray-discharge, alternately throws his weight upon opposite portions of the platform, to either side of its line of pivotal bearin g.

Referrin g to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of my invention. Fig. L is a longitudinal central section, and Fig. 3 a transverse central section, of the same.

The vessel A may be of any suitable size or construction, either made portable or fixed, and adapted to receive a sufficient volume of water for the end in view. In its central body is formed a suitable casing for the water-chainber B and the two pumps 0, one at either longitudinal end of chamber B. Each of these pump-barrels is provided with suitable induction-port c and eduetion-port I), the same being respectively equipped with the usual valves in pumps of this character, so that water is alternately drawn into the pumps from vessel A and discharged from out the same into water-chamber B. From the side of the transverse central portion of this chamber B, and in direct connection with said chamber, leads the lower horizontal branch 0 of the trunk-discharge E, the vertical portion 6 being in this way placed out of interfering distance with the bather, while the upper horizontal branch 0 is bent in suitable angular inclination, to cause the rose or spray-nozzleF to overhang the bather upon the operating-platform. This spray-nozzle may be made of any desired size, and is suitably perforated to sprinkle the body of the bather; and it is evident that the quantity of water thus showered over him is regulated by his tilting movement upon the platform, and is subject to his wish.

The independent box-frame G, which fits over the pumping apparatus and rests upon the bottom of the water vessel or tub, is provided at both longitudinal extremities with the openings g, adapted to register with the induction-ports o, and allow water to pass through the same into the pump-cylinders. A suitable slot, g, is also cut in its central side body, to permit the lower horizontal branch 0 of the trunk-discharge E to connect with the water-chamber B. To the upper body of this box-frame, and in a line through its transverse central portion, is secured the platform H by the pivotal joint-connections it, one on either side thereof. A depending casing, L, of metal or other suitable material, is secured to the under side of this platform, and serves as a cover for the pumping apparatus.

The two plunger-rods M may be secured by jointed connections to the platform at suitable points on thelower side of the same, so as to work in their respective cylinders, while their lower extremities are provided wit-h suitable plungers or pistons N.

A frame-work, P, may be erected about the entire apparatus, and form part thereof, as shown in the drawings, upon which curtains or other suitable screen protection may be hung, so as to shield the bather from View but this frame is not essential to my invention, and similar immaterial features described in the precedin g speci fication might be changed or omitted without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 do not claim, in a shower-bath apparatus adapted to be operated by the alternate tiltin g weight of the bather, the combination, with the two end pumps, of the single platform pivoted in a Vertical plane between said pumps, and actuating the same, substantially as described.

Having full y described my invention, what Nuts 1 NELSON.

Witnesses:

HENRY F. HEINEMAN, EDWIN S. Por'rs. 

